Americans may return to the Moon before China

The article reports NASA's Artemis II will send four astronauts around the moon soon and says Artemis III aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface in 2028, which the piece notes would be ahead of China's projected timeline.

NASA's Artemis II mission is scheduled to send four astronauts to fly around the moon, possibly as soon as next month. The crew includes three Americans and one Canadian and will launch on the Space Launch System from Cape Canaveral. This will be the first human lunar mission since Apollo 17 in December 1972. NASA leads a 60-nation Artemis program that it describes as working toward a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration. Key details: - Artemis II is described as a 10-day crewed flight that will orbit the moon. - The article reports NASA has moved the Space Launch System to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral. - NASA is reported to be on track for Artemis III to land astronauts on the lunar surface in 2028. - The article notes that a 2028 landing would be about two years ahead of China's earliest projected moon landing. - Experts quoted in the article discuss lunar mining, resources such as rare earth minerals and helium-3, and the potential strategic and military importance of moon bases and control of cis-lunar space. - The article also mentions advances in commercial reusable rockets and China's development of heavy-lift Long March rockets and other launch vehicles. Summary: The article presents the Artemis missions as steps toward renewed human activity on the moon and emphasizes strategic considerations about resources and control of space near the Earth and moon. Artemis II is expected to fly soon and Artemis III is planned for a lunar landing in 2028; the piece contrasts the U.S. timeline with China's developing launch and lunar capabilities.